Preventing Deaths and Injuries to Firefighters Working at Strip Mall Fires

Firefighter Risks in Strip Mall Fires Firefighters face significant risks when responding to strip mall fires due to various construction challenges. These incidents are considered low-frequency but high-risk due to: Limited entry and exit points High heat release rate fuel loads Maze-like interior layouts High entanglement potential 360-Degree Size-Up & Fire Control The first-arriving units must conduct a complete 360-degree size-up, locate the fire, and identify potential fire spread paths. If a full size-up is not possible due to the building’s size, teams must report this to dispatch and assign units to assess the rear (Side Charlie). Construction & Occupancy Hazards Strip malls vary in construction type, including Type II (noncombustible), Type III (ordinary), and Type V (wood frame), often featuring a mix of traditional and engineered structural systems. Common hazards include: High entanglement risks from drop ceilings Void spaces that trap heat and fire gases Possible shared attic spaces between occupancies Lack of fire protection systems in older structures Practice with the Strip Mall Fire Simulator Enhance your training and decision-making skills by using the Strip Mall Fire Simulator on FreeFireSimulator.com. This interactive tool allows firefighters to: Practice fireground size-up and tactical decision-making Simulate fire spread based on various construction types Experiment with different suppression strategies Click the image below to access the classic PC simulator:            Click here for our mobile device friendly simulator          Or use your own image with most mobile devices here